Congressman Kim - Coronavirus Update – December 2022
NJ COVID-19 Cases Update (as of 12/12/22 at 10:30 a.m.)
- +2,204 NEW COVID-19 cases statewide
- 7-day average of NEW cases a day: 2,402
- +22 NEW fatalities / total (cumulative) fatalities in New Jersey: 32,119
- 78% of New Jersey residents of all eligible ages are fully vaccinated
- +91 NEW cases in Burlington County
- The COVID-19 community risk level in Burlington County is currently medium.
- 78% of Burlington County residents of all eligible ages are vaccinated
- 14 Long Term Care facilities with ACTIVE outbreaks
- Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that Burlington County residents who are at high risk for severe illness, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to wear a mask and take other precautions. All should stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and get tested if you have symptoms. People may choose to mask at any time. People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask.
- +131 NEW cases in Ocean County
- The COVID-19 community risk level in Ocean County is currently medium.
- 56% of Ocean County residents of all eligible ages are vaccinated
- 35 Long Term Care facilities with ACTIVE outbreaks
- Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that Ocean County residents who are at high risk for severe illness, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to wear a mask and take other precautions. All should stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and get tested if you have symptoms.People may choose to mask at any time. People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask.
Visit COVID19.nj.gov for the most up-to-date information and access to the full data dashboard.
You can also download the COVID Alert NJ Mobile App, for iPhone or Android.
Updates from the White House, State and Congressman Kim
- On December 9th, 2022, the CDC expanded the use of updated (bivalent) COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 6 months to 5 years. Please see the CDC and FDA media statements for additional information.
- The Ocean County Health Department (OCHD) released their COVID/Flu Vaccine and Testing Clinic schedule through December 2022. Visit OCHD.org for additional dates, locations, and to schedule an appointment as necessary.
- Monday, December 12 & 19, 2022 from 2PM-6PM at OCHD, 175 Sunset Avenue, Toms River
- Tuesday, December 13, 2022 from 1:00PM – 3:00 PM Brick Senior Center, 373 Adamston Road, Brick
- Wednesday, December 14, 2022 from 10AM-2PM at Ocean County College Drive-thru, Toms River (Parking lot 3)
- Wednesday, December 14, 2022 from 11AM-2PM at JBJ Soul Kitchen, Hooper Avenue, Toms River
- Thursday, December 15, 2022 from 3:00PM - 6:00PM at Stafford Library, 129 N. Main Street, Manahawkin
- Tuesday, December 20, 2022 from 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM at Lacey Community Center, 101 North Main Street, Lacey Township
- On November 28th, Governor Phil Murphy announced the beginning of an independent review of New Jersey’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic to enhance the State’s preparedness for future public health crises.
- The New Jersey Department of Health encourages everyone 6 months or older to get their annual flu shot and their eligible COVID-19 booster(s) to stay healthy and protected through the winter.
CDC Mask Recommendations
CDC mask recommendations are based on their COVID-19 Community Level tool, which was released in February. The metrics are based on hospitalizations and case rates. CDC metrics available online are updated every Thursday.
As of today, Burlington and Ocean Counties are considered MEDIUM RISK, according to the CDC. Therefore, federal recommendation is that people may choose to mask at any time. People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask.
Additional precautions may be needed for people at high risk for severe illness. If you are at high risk for severe illness, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to wear a mask and take other precautions. Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and get tested if you have symptoms
3 counties in New Jersey are currently considered high risk (Passaic, Bergen, and Hudson Counties).
While these recommendations do not trigger any mask requirements in New Jersey, N95 masks are still available for free at pharmacies, retailers, and community health centers.
General COVID-19 Vaccine Information
Anyone six-months old or above who lives, works, or studies in New Jersey is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. For more information about current eligibility, statewide vaccination site locations, and to preregister for vaccination, visit COVID-19.nj.gov/vaccine.
The New Jersey COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center can also be reached at: 1-855-568-0545
Find additional vaccination information specific for veterans, businesses, seniors, and children online and/or request a new copy of your vaccination card.
Booster Information
Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters by checking the latest information on the CDC’s website.
People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised have different recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines.
Information on Clinical Considerations & Mixing COVID-19 Vaccine Products:
Primary series
CDC does not recommend mixing products for your primary series doses. If you received Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax for the first dose of your primary series, you should get the same product for all following primary series doses.
Boosters
- Updated (bivalent) boosters became available on:
- September 2, 2022, for people 12 years of age and older
- October 12, 2022, for people aged 5–11
- December 9, 2022, for the people aged 6 months to 5 years.
- CDC recommends everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines for their age group:
- Getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you recover from COVID-19 infection provides added protection against COVID-19.
- If you recently had COVID-19, you may consider delaying your next vaccine dose (primary dose or booster) by 3 months from when your symptoms started or, if you had no symptoms, when you first received a positive test.
The CDC considers people to be up to date if:
- They have completed their primary series and the most recent booster recommended for them.
Additional clinical considerations and guidance from the CDC is available and updated on a rolling basis.
COVID-19 Testing
You can find a testing location near you here and here, order a free saliva test shipped directly to your door online, or find out more information about public testing sites, including pop-up sites.
The NJ Department of Health and Vault Medical Services are continuing to offer free, at-home COVID-19 saliva test kits. These are available to all, even if you are symptom-free. To order a free test kit, visit learn.vaulthealth.com/nj.
For those who are blind or have low-vision, more accessible testing options can be ordered online or by calling 1-800-232-0233.
You can also purchase up to eight at-home, over-the-counter COVID-19 tests a month upfront and then submit a claim for reimbursement to your insurance company. If you purchase an over-the-counter COVID-19 test from a pharmacy, store, or online retailer and are charged for your test, keep your receipt and submit a claim to your insurance company for reimbursement. People with Medicare can get up to eight tests per month from participating pharmacies and health care providers. Here is a list of the pharmacies participating in Medicare’s over-the-counter tests initiative.
Additional Resources
We have compiled additional COVID-19 information and resources regarding transportation, returning to work, rental assistance, funeral reimbursement, and healthcare subsidies.
Where Can I Get More Information and Updates From Congressman Kim?
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Our office receives regular inquiries about where to find essential resources. To help constituents, we’ve developed lists of resources in New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District and beyond. This list includes organizations with a wide variety of purposes.
As always, please don’t hesitate to be in touch if you’re in need of assistance.
The Office of Congressman Andy Kim
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